Refrigerating apparatus



w. H. TEETER REFRIGERAIING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 25, 1939 I INVENTOR.h//Afoeo ff. 72g nsf.

M' dal /w's ATToRNEYs.

May 21, 1940. w. H TEETER REFRIGERATING APARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledFeb. 25. 1939 INVENTOR. War-oxo H. 72:72:@

Md* las( Y Z ,ws ATTORNEYS.

MY 21 1940- l Iw. H. TEETER 2,201,596

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 25. `lass s sheets-sheet s .7 'i 3 777'a 6 8/./4e y 8 H. Irl- :ETER REFRIGRTWG 'APPARATUS May 21, 1940.

Filed FebQ l'25, 1959 5 sheets-sheet V4 .l l ATTORNEYS.

May 21, 1940.4 w. H. TEETER HEFRIGERATIN-G APPARATUS Filed Feb. 25. 19595 Sheets-Sheet 5 llii: l. Si! ...tm

INVENTOR.

lBY

//S ATTORNEYS.

/// ff z,

r Patented Mey 21, 1940 I' PATENT' oFF'lcE meneame arraasrus wurru n.Teuer, Dayton, ohio, assigner zu General Motors Corporation, Dayton,Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application February 25, `1939, serialNo. 258,480

is on..

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatas and particularly torefrigerated ice cream storage cabinets.

Ice cream storage or the )ilse cabinets are usually provided with aremovable sub-top to facilitate the assembly or disassembly of thecabinet in order to remove parts thereof for repair and/or replacement.In the past', such ice cream cabinet sub-tops have. been formed ofrelatively l thick rigid woodA or rubber material, thus rendering thesub-tops heavy`and dimcult to remove from the cabinet. In the use ofwood subtops for ice cream or the like storage cabinet constructions.-the sub-tops thereof are difcult to seal against moisture enteringinterior parts of the cabinets and consequently the moisturel morereadily deteriorates the wood sub-tops and other inner parts of suchcabinets. In addition to such sub-tops becoming deteriorated and beingdimcult to remove from cabinets, the wood thereof does not provide asefllcient insulation around or adjacent the'top surface of a cabinet ascom-4 pared to other insulating materials. The relatively thick woodparts of cabinet sub-tops ordinarily occupy a large area which should bemore effectively insulated in order to prevent the collection orcondensation of moisture on the top V surface of an ice cream cabinet,particularly in the top portion of an ice cream cabinet, to reduce theweight of the cabinet and to provide for the removal of the low pressureside of a refrigerating system, associated with the cabinet. along withthe cabinet sub-top as a unit from the cabinet.

An object of my invention is to'provide an improved refrigerated icecream or the like storage cabinet. 1-

Another object of my invention is to provide a refrigerating apparatus'of the ice cream or the like storage type of improved constructionwhich is effectively insulated, of light' weight, strong and durableandof low manufacturing cost.

.A further object of my invention is to provide a refrigerated ice creamcabinet wherein the top portion thereof is of an improved constructionto afford more 'effective insulating of sameand wherein the top portionofA thecabinet can be quickly and readily removed from the main cabinetportion.

A still Afurther object of my invention is to pro- ',vide a.refrigerated ice cream cabinet with a subftop to which the liner,forming walls of the storage compartment within the cabinet, and the re-(Cl. 32e-89) frigerant evaporating element -or coil associated with thecabinet and secured to the liner is ref movable along with the sub-topas a unit from the cabinet.

Stilll further and more specific objects and advantages of my inventionreside in thef simplicity of the improved refrigerated'ice cream cabinetconstruction and in novell combinations and arrangements of partsthereof or elements of a refrigerating system associated therewith as f`will more fully appear in the course'of the following descriptionm Inthe drawings:

. Fig. l is a perspective view of a refrigerated ice cream storagecabinet constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view of the icecream cabinet taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of one corner of the icecream cabinet 'taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1:

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view in a direction toward a cornerof the refrigerator cabinet .showing the sheet metal constructionthereof;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view of anothercorner of the ice cream cabinet taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1; .l

Fig. 6 is a. fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 6-6of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view ofthe refrigerating apparatus taken on the line 1--1 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional'view of the refrigerator cabinet taken ontheline .-8 of Fig. "l:

and v Fig. 9 is@l vertical sectional view of the refrigerator cabinetsimilar toFig. 7 and showing the cabinet sub-top and other parts securedthereto removed from the cabinet vouter wall structure.

' Referring to the drawings, for illustrating my invention, I have shownin Fig, 1 tliereof a refrigerating apparatus in the form of anice creamcan receiving and storage cabinet or the like, 45 (generally'representedby the reference character i5, and having a rfrigerating systemassociated therewith. The cabinet l5 of `the refrigerating apparatus isof a generally square or rectangular form and comprises a metal framestructure (see 50 Fig. 4) including an angled sheet metal supportingbase i6 having a base plate I1 welded or otherwise suitably secured'thereupon and extending outwardly a short distancefrom the support`ingsbase with its outeredges bent upwardly as at l I8 (see Figs. 2 and4). At three vertical corners of the frame structure there is a cornerpost i9 formed of sheet metal bent to provide vertically .extendinganged portions 2| and horizontal flanged portions 22 (see Figs. 3 and4). The

' lower horizontal flanged portions 22 of post I9 are spotwelded as at23 to the base plate I1 and the upper horizontal flanged portions 22 ofthe post I9 are spotwelded as at 24 to the bottom face of an upper partof the cabinet frame. This upper frame part of the pabinet framestructure is generally represented by the reference character 25 and isalso formed of sheet metal bent to provide a short upstanding sideportion 26, a lower horizontal portion 21, a vertical portion 28, anupper horizontal portion 29, another vertical portion 3| and anintermediate horizontal portion 32 (see Fig. 4). Finished metal sidepanels 35 are shown secured in abutting relation to the flanged portions2| of posts I9 upon the frame structure of cabinet I5 by screws or thelike 36 which pass through and also clamp inished exterior metal roundedcorner members 31 to the cabinet structure. The fourth vertical cornerof the frame structure of cabinet I0 (see Figs. 5, 7 and 8) is formed byan upright sheet metal member 4| having a short flanged part 42 andprovided with an open part 43. A pocket provided adjacent the open part43in member 4I is formed by a metal box-like member 44 welded orotherwise suitably secured to member 4I. Annished exterior rounded metalcorner member 45 is secured to the member 4I by screws or the like 46passing therethrough and through the exterior side panels 35 andthreaded into the flange 42 on member 4I (see Fig. 5). In addition tothe pocket formed 4by the metal member 44 adjacent the opening 43 in theupright corner post 4| ,of the cabinet metal frame structure the cornerpost 4| is also provided with a vertically elongated slot or opening 5Iwhich is disposed in vertical align'- ment with a break or open portionprovided by spaced apart and depressed end portions 52 and 53 (see Fig.8) of the upper frame member 25 of the cabinet frame structure. The openportion 5| in member 4| also extends across the top wall part of member4|. The open portion or break in the upper frame member 25, provided bythe spaced apart end portions 52 and 53 thereof, and the open portion 5|in the one corner post form- 'ing member 4| .register with one anotherto provide a slot in the cabinet frame construction for a purpose to behereinafter more fully described.

However, this slot in the cabinet metal frame construction is normallyclosed by a plate 54 which rests or ts in the depressed end portions 52and 53 of upper frame member 25. The plate 5ft has substantially thesame cross-sectional contour as the wall portions'21, 28, 29, 3| and 82of member 25 and is normally secured to member 25 by screws 56 (see Fig.7), which screws pass through plate 54 and are threaded into opcnngsprovided in the depressed parts of the horizontal portion 21 of member25. The opening or slot 5I in the top and side Walls ofupright box-likecorner post 4I has a metal membenpro vided with a flanged part 56 whichis spotwelded as `at 51 (see. Fig. 8) to post 4|, a wall part 58extendingv outwardly from part 58 thereof and another short flange part59, extending there'- around.

A compartment formedwithin cabinet |5 by a metal liner BI Vis adapted toreceive cans containing bulk ice cream or other food products such aspackagedrfrozen foods of Various kinds.

.portion of liner 8l by rivets or the like 12.

metal member 1I 'is secured to the upper edge i The annular member 1|has its top edge rolled over or reverselafkbent to provide a hook 18thereon which extends continuously around the open top of the liner 8|.It is to be noted that the hook portion of member 1| is spaced from themain body portion thereof to provide a channel for a purpose to behereinafter more fully described. Member 1| is also provided with aplurality of spaced apart holes for receiving screws 14 which passtherethrough and are threaded into relatively flat metal pieces 15,preferably perforated as at 15 (see Fig. 9). The metal pieces 15 arepreferably of a material having low heat conductivity characteristics,and it should be notedv portion 18. It is to be noted that the hook por'tion 19 is spaced from the main portion of the metal sub-top plate 18also for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described. The otheredge portion of the sub-top plate 18 is bent down as at 8| and thenceoutwardly as at 82 to lay against or rest upon the intermediatehorizontal portion or ,ledge 82 of the frame member 25 of the cabinetframe structure. A member 85 is secured. by screws 88 (see Figs. 2 and6), to the frame part 25 of the cabinet frame structure and provides abacking or reinforcement for the curved portion of a finished metal top88 placed over the sub-top 18 and part 25 of the cabinet framestructure. Finished metal top 88 is secured to cabinet I5 by meansincluding a plurality of screws 88 spaced apart around the sides of thecabinet and threaded into the upturned outer lip portion 28 of thecabinet top frame part 25. 55

The upturned edge 51 on plate 58 fits within a slot cut in a slab ofcorkboard insulation 89 located between theplate 56 and the sub-topplate 18 of the cabinet. Small pieces of corkboard insulation are placedbetween the frame part 25 and the top wall of corner post 4|. One ofthese small pieces of corkboard. 9| extends entirely across the slot oropen portion 5I of post 4I and is secured to the corkboard 89 andremovabletherewith from the cabinet proper. The wall of the storagecompartment throat or wall of the door opening above the liner Iii isformed by an annular ilexible and resilent molded rubber member 82 whichis relatively fiat and wide in cross-sectional contour. Rubber member 82is provided with an integral beaded upper lip or flange portion 88having an integral downwardly extending leg part 94 which fits withinthe channel provided by the reversely bent edge part of the sub-topplate 18 to form the hook 18. Rubber member accuses 92 is also providedwith a relatively thick por#A tion 95 adjacent its bottom edge and whichthick portion 95 has an upwardly directed leg portion 96 fitted withinthe channel provided by thereversely bent part of the annular metalmember 1|. The main flat portion of`member 92 extends between and tsover the hooks 13 and 19 to maintain the rubber member in place and toprovide a wall for the door opening. The rubber member .92 is flexed orstretched to locate its integral legs Stand 96 in `their respectivepositions, and the force exerted bythe resiliency ofv member 92maintains the legs locked within the reversely bent portions of member`1| and,v of plate 18. This stretching of member 92 in place between theliner 6| and cabinet metal top provides a sealed joint at this point,and the member 92 forms a wall which is-imperviousto moisture. Prior toplacing vthe throat lining-or door opening wall-forming rubber member'92 upon cabinet |5, a thermal plastic insulating material 91 such, forexample, as hydrolene is packed against the slab of corkboard 89 andaround the spaced apart -ilat metal pieces 15 to further insulate thecabinet top wall portion. In order to cool the storage compartment,formed by liner 6| within cabinet l5, I wrap a pipe or conduit 10|around the liner 6| and solder or otherwise firmly secure the pipe tothe liner outer wall surfaces. The pipe or conduit |0| substantiallysurrounds the liner- 6| andforms' a refrigerant evaporating element or.expansion coil. Refrigerant evaporated within coil |0| cools theinterior of the foodstorage compartment. Slabs of corkboard |02 areplaced around the liner 6| and refriger. ant evaporating coil |0| toinsulate the coil and the storage compartment. The one end'i03 of pipecoil 10| extends through a/ wall of a, metal box |04 secured to liner 6|and is connected to an expansion or the like device or valve |05disposed in the Vbox |04 (see Figs. 5 and 6). The f. wall of liner 6|adjacent the box |04 is cut away to provide access to thevalve |05 fromwithin the food storage compartment. A plate |06 hav- I ing upper clips|01 and a lower spring clip |08 is removably attached to the liner 6|for normally closing the opening therein,which provides ac- -cess tolvalve |05 within th'e box |04. The removable plate v|06 is located invertical alignment with the side Wall portion of liner 6| and provides acontinuation thereof adjacent the .box |04. The other` end H0 of therefrigerant ex- 'pansion pipe coil |0| extends outwardly from the liner6| through-an opening provided in oneof the slabs of corkboardinsulation' |02 ad- -jacent the opening 5| in the boxylike corner post4|. The end ||0 of coil |0| extends downwardly y vand is provided with aremovable connection with the opening lin another. pipe which leads tothe compressor ofa refrigerant liquefying and condensing unit -(notshown). Another pipe or conduit ||3 extends along the end portion I0 ofpipe coil |0| through the' corkboard insulation'. This pipe ||3 isremovably connected with a pipe leading from the condenser or receiverof the refrigerant liquefying and condensing unit. A'I'he other end H4of pipe ||3 extends through a wall valve |05. The refrigerant liquefyingand condensing unit (not shown) withdrawsrefrigerant from the pipe coil|0| through its end portion H0, thus causing evaporationY of refrigerantin the coil |0| to thereby refrigerate or coolthe interior of the foodstorage compartment. Con-.1. densed liquefied refrigerant is. circulatedto the (see Figs. 5, '1 and 8) are secured to the f The side wall panelsexpansion valve |06 from the refrigerating unit through the pipe I|3 andthis valve controls the entrance of liquid refrigerant to coil |0| inac- ;/cordance with the refrigeration requirements of the coil. I securea tube ||6 to nner sul and uns tube" forms a well into which I insert athermostat opening 43 in member 4|.` Switch |22 controls the startingand/or stopping of the refrigerant circulating unit in accordance withthe temperature of the cooling eiect produced by the refrigerantevaporating element or coil |0| secured in "intimate thermal contact,with liner 6| of the food storage compartment. The switch responds toexpansion and/or contractionv of its bellows in response to pressures ofa fluid sealed within the. bellows, pipe H9 and thermostat bulb ||1 asis conventional in such refrigerating-apparatus.

In order to close the vertical part of opening 5| inthe wall of thecabinet corner post 4| f through which the refrigerant conveying pipelines ||0 and H3 and tube ||6 extend, I provide a plate |3| having holestherein which receive the pipes H0, ||3 and tube H6 and'which plate isslipped over the pipes during assembly of the refrigerating system tothe cabinet 5. I also slip a ilexible rubber grommet |32 over eachrefrigerant pipe H0 and ||3 and over the tube H6,

. which is secured to liner 6|, after the pipes H0,

||3 and tube ||6 have been passed throughthe openings in plate |3|. Thisplate |3| is wider than the opening 5I in the wall of post 4| and islocated adjacent the opening 5| and rests upon the bottom horizontalpart 50 of the metal mem-r ber located about the opening 5| and abutsthe Wall of post 4|. A horizontallyfdisposed plate |33 closes thehorizontal part of opening 5| in the top wall portion of the .comer post4|. AIn

abutting relationwith the'walls of post 4|, I pack loosevbrous Aor thelike insulating material |35`against the plates |3| and |33. Theinsulating material is compressed against the vertically disposed plate|3| by twohalf plates |36 and|3`l and against the horizontally disposedplate |33 by a plate |30 having an upturned portion |39 Thecomplementary half plates |36 and |31 each have Ithree semi-cylindricalslots provided in their. registering edges .[40 ,(see Fig, 8), thewallsof which slots engage the grommets |32 .and nt into'annular groovesprovided therein. The half plates |36Vand |31 :Banged parts 59 of themetal member, extending along the slot 5|' in post 4|, by a plurality ofscrews |4|. 'Ihe upper hori- 14's order to secure or force plates |3|and`|33 in tov zontal plate |33 is secured to the flanged parts 5 9 ofthe horizgrtal portionvof the metal member, extending along thehorizontal part ofslot Il -ln box 4|, by. screws |42.- It will beunderstoodl that the packing-of the insulating material |36 againstplate |3|`and againsty plate |33 and the compressing of this materialthereagainst bythe clamping half plates |36 and |31 and by plate |30holds the v while at. the same time closing the opening :5|

the opening 5|.

plates' |3| y and |33. rmly in placeY Ain" post 4| and eilectivelyysealing -or insulating A.

'35 of cabinet I-'areusually '75 coated with paint or enamel and thefinished top panel of the cabinet is preferably formed of Monel metal orstainless steel. Cabinet I5 is preferably provided with a centralmullion, covered by a'part |45 of the metal cabinet top 88 (see Fig, l),which divides the top of the cabinet into two door openings. 'I'he twodoor openings in the top of cabinet i5 are normally closed by doors |46which restupon the beaded finger o r flange portion 93 ofthe rubbermember 92. The central mullion, covered by the part |45 of cabinet top88, may be provided'by an integral part of the top frame portion 25 ofthe cabinet frame structure and is preferably insulated in amannersimilar to the method of insulating the other portions of thecompartment throat or door opening. Thus, it will be seen that two ofthe rubber throat linings or annular compartment door opening wallforming members 92 are employed in the construction of my improvedcabinet I5.

In order to rigidly clamp and support the subtop plate 18 of cabinet 5and other of the elements of thecabinet secured thereto, I pass aplurality of screws |48 'through the horizontal flanged part 82 ofsub-top 18 and thread these screws into threaded holes provided in thehorizontal part 32 of frame portion 25 of the metal cabinet framestructure. The groove around the top portion of the cabinet, covered bythe exterior top member 88 and formed by the downwardly extending part8| and horizontally flanged part 82 of cabinet sub-top 18 registeringwith the downwardly extending part'3l and horizontal part 32 of frameportion 25, is partially filled with a thermoplastic insulating material|49, such for example as hydrolene. The material |49 fills the cracks atthe connection of the parts 82 vand 32 and seals same as well as sealingthe openings through which the screws |48 pass. This insulating material|49 seals the joint between the cabinet proper and the removable sectionor portion of the cabinet which will now be described.

In the present apparatus the compartment liner 6|, refrigerant coil |0|and tube ||6 secured to the liner, box |04 and the expansion valve |05therein as well as certain upper inner parts of cabinet I5 are removablefrom the cabinet proper in order to provide for the removal of theportion of the refrigerating system associated with the cabinet forrepair or replacement. In disassemI- bling the cabinet |5 for removingthe portion of the refrigerating system associated therewith,`

the lower edge of the rubber door opening wall forming member or rubbercompartment throat lining 92 is flexed or pried, by a suitable tool,away from the top edge of compartment liner 6| The thick part 95 ofmember 92 is then grasped by the hands and flexed away from the annularmember 1| to cause its integral leg portion 96 to be withdrawn from thespace or channel between the reversely bent or hooked portion 13 ofmember 1|. After removal of the lower part'of rubber member 92 from itslocking member 1|, it is pulled or peeled upwardly, and by inserting atool under its-upper lip 93 its upper mounting leg 94 can be readilywithdrawn from the reversely bent or hooked portion 19 on the cabinetsubtopplate 18 to permit removal of the member 92 from the cabinet I5.The removal of the rubber member 92 from cabinet I5 will now permitdetachment or removal of the cabinet metal top 88. Therefore, the screws90, disposed in spaced apart relation around the side walls of cabinetI5, are removed from the part 26 of frame portion 25 of the `cabinetframe structure. The cabinet metal top 88 can then be readily' removed,and removal of this top 88 provides access to the plastic sealinginsulation |49. This sealing insulation |49 is then removed by a screwdriver or like tool to provide access to the screws |48. Upon removal ofscrews |42 and |4I, the plates |36, |31 and |38 can be detached from thecabinet to permit removal of the loose fibrous insulation |35.Thereafter, plate |33 is removed to uncover the horizontally extendingpart of opening 5| in the corner post 4|. 56, which secure the bridgingplate 54 to the ends 52 and 53 of frame part 25, and removal of theplurality of screws |48 around the top of cabinet |5 certain parts ofthe cabinet can b e removed from thev main part or cabinet proper. Prior to attempting removal of the removable section or portion of thecabinet to now be described, the thermostat bulb ||1 is withdrawn fromthe well or tube H6, the exibility of the copper pipe ||9 permittingsuch withdrawal, and is placed out of a vertical path of movement of therefrigerant conveying pipes ||0 rand 3. Thereafter, an ipward forceapplied to the subtop plate 18 of cabinet |5 will elevate plate 18,metal members 15, the annular metal member 1|, liner 6|, plate 66 andthe top corkboard insulating slab 89 together with tube ||6 andpipe coil|0| secured to the liner 6| ,(see Fig. 9). Thus these identified partsof cabinet I5 form the removable section or portion of the apparatusdisclosed. It is to beunderstood that the pipe ends H0 and I3terminating below the point at which they pass through the insulating`side wall of cabinet |5 are disconnected from their corresponding pipesleading to the refrigerant'liquefying and circulating unit prior toelevating the aforementioned parts of the apparatus forming theremovable section or unit. Thus, elevation of the parts described causesthe tube H6 and refrigerant pipes ||0 and 3 to pass upwardly in the slotor opening 5| in post 4| through the horizontal part of opening 5|,normally covered by plate |33. The horizontal part of opening 5| affordsclearance for theremoval of the refrigerant pipes with the liner as aunit with the cabinet sub-top structure through the space providedbetween the spaced apart ends 52 and 53 'of the frame part 25 of thecabinet metal frame structure (see Fig. 9) The closure plate |3|,through which the tube ||6 and pipes ||0 and ||3 extend, together withthe grommets |32 are raised along with the elevated parts or removablesection described. The control switch |22 remains in the cabinet properby virtue of removal of the thermostat bulb 1 andits switch connectingpipe ||9 from the thermostat well I6. However, the box |04 and therefrigerant expansion valve IDS-disposed therein is, of course, elevatedalong with the other raised parts or section of the apparatus. The smallsegment of corkboard insulation 9| is secured to the cork cabinet topinsulating board 89 and is elevated therewith from the cabinet proper.The remainder of the corkboard slabs of insulation |02 all being sealedor secured to one another, preferably with hydrolene cement disposedbetween their abutting surfaces, remain in their respective positionswithin the walls of the cabinet structure. The removal of parts or theremovable section of the apparatus as described and as illustrated inFig. 9 of the drawings, permits repair or replacement Now, upon removalof screws of various parts of the apparatus at the location 4 and itsrefrigerani'foutlet pipe. Although the 'a cabinet is devoid of woodenparts and has its top ofinstallation and avoids the necessity ofshipping the entire apparatus back to the manufacturer. f

My improved refrigerating apparatus and the construction of same permitsthe top portion of a refrigerator cabinet to be more effectivelyinsulated in that I have' entirely eliminated the use of'a thick woodsub-top ltherefrom. Due to the low temperature atk which the interior ofa cabinet of the type disclosed is maintained, the eliminating of woodfrom around their tops and the substitution of a more eillcientinsulating material in place of the wood isan advancement in the art ofice cream cabinet constructions. This advancement not only prevents thecollection 'orf condensation of moisture around the door openings on thetop surface of the cabinet, but alsoydecreases theweight of the cabinetand renders same of increased structural strength'. The location of theexpansion valve Ill, or other vsuitable refrigerant flow control means,adjacent the food storage compartment liner il and the provision ofobtaining access thereto, for permitting adjustment thereof, from withinthe food storage "compartment of the refrigerator cabinet is anotherfeature of my invention. 'll'liis location of the expansion valvepermits. the podtioning of highly effective insulating material.' aroundthe valve or its-housingbox which preventscondensation of moisturethereon.,withdrawn ,from air exteriorly of the cabinet, andrrosting ofthe valve I portion formed of metallic members, thesealing larrangementat the point ofmseparation of the metal members, which provides thestructural strength of the cabinet, forms an'air tight joint to thusprevent the entrance of moisture to 111-.

terior parts of the refrigerator cabinetfv In the apparatus disclosedthe control switch |22 is concealed to enhance the appearance of thecabinet, but this switch is readily accessible for adjustment or repairuponremoving the corner panel 4I which covers the one corner post ofthe' cabinet.

Prom'the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided an improved lowtemperature ice cream or other frozen food storage cabinet w ch can beemcientlyinsulated, readily disassem led and .which is of lowmanufacturing cost, of decreased lweight and of increased structuralstrength. In

the improved refrigerating apparatus disclosed I have concealed certain'elements of the apparatus, to which access is frequently necessary, inorder to more effectively seal and insulate the i cabinet of theapparatus and to improve 'its exterior appearance, while at the sametime-'providing for access to such elements in a minimum of time andwith less dismantling operations. The elimination of wood and othersimilar from ,me cabinet winchreaduy become deteriorated,

renders the apparatus capable of use over a long period of time withoutrepair or replacement.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosedconstitutes a preferred dorm, it is to be understood that other Aformsmight be adopted, all comlngwithin the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

l. a refrigerating apparatus comprising combination, a cabinet having abottom wall, a plurality. of side walls, a top'member and a subtop wallstructure, a metallic member forming a compartment within said cabinet,said cabinet f top member and said cabinet sub-top wall structure havingregistering apertures therein 'provid-Y aaoipoe i ing an access openingto said compartment, said metallic member being rigidly connected tosaid cabinet sub-top wall structure in spaced relation to said cabinettop member, a refrigerating system associated with said cabinet andincluding a refrigerant evaporating element extending over and beingdirectly secured to said compartmentl forming member, said cabinet topmember being detachable from vsaid cabmeaand said cabi;

net sub-top wall structure being detachable from other walls of saidcabinet and movable upwardly thereof whereby said rigid connection ofsaid compartment forming member therewith causes removal of saidcompartment forming member v and said refrigerant evaporating element ofsaid lli refrigerating system along with said sub-top wallstructure as aunit from said cabinet.

lation to said cabinet top member, means including a resilient elementextending between; said members and engaging said top member for.securing same upon said cabinet, said means be ing constructed andarranged to form the wall of said' compartment access opening, arefrigeratingsystem associated with said cabinet and in' cluding arefrigerant evaporating element extending over and being directlysecured to said com-- partment forming member, said resilient elementfbeing removable from said cabinet to permit detachment of said topmember from the cabinet,

and said cabinet sub-top wall structure'being detachable from otherwalls of said cabinet and partment forming member and said refrigerantevaporating element -ofsaid refrigeratlng systemalong with's'aid sub-topwall structure as a unit from said cabinet 3. A refrigeratingfapparatuscomprising in- -movable upwardly thereof to remove saidcomf combination,a cabinet'havlng a bottom wall, a

plurality of 'side walls, a top member and a subtop wall structure, ametallic member forming a compartment within said cabinet, said cabinettop member and said cabinet sub-top wall structure havingvregisteringapertures therein providing an access opening to said compartment, saidvAmetallic member being rigidly connected to said cabinet sub-top wallstructure in spaced relation to said cabinet top member, a refrigeratingsystem associated with said cabinet, said system ineluding' arefrigerant evaporating .element extending over and being directly'secured to said compartment forming member, said system also includ--ing a device disposed adjacent a wall of said compartment forming memberfor controlling the new of refrigerant into said evaporating element,said'cabinet top member being detachable from said cabinet, and saidcabinet sub-top Wall structure being detachable from other walls ofsaid' cabinet and movable upwardly thereoiwhereby A said rigidconnection of said compartment form- 'ing member therewith causesvremoval of said compartment forming member, said refrigerantevaporatingelement and said refrigerantiiow W control device of said refrigeratingsystem along with said sub-top wall structure as a unit from, saidcabinet. j

i ture having registering apertures therein providing' an access openingto said compartment, said metallic member being rigidly connected tosaidcabinet sub-top wall structure in spaced relation to said cabinettop member, means including a resilient element extending between saidmembers and engaging said top member for securing same upon saidcabinet, said means being constructed and arranged to form the wall ofsaid compartment access opening, a refrigerating system associated withsaid cabinet. said system including a refrigerant evaporating elementextending over and being directly secured to said compartment formingmember. said system also including a device disposed adjacent a wall ofsaid compartment forming member for controlling the flow of refrigerantinto said evaporating element, said resilient element being removablefrom said cabinet to permit detachment of said top member from thecabinet, and said cabinet sub-top wall structurebeing detachable fromother walls of said cabinetf and movable upwardly thereof to remove saidcompartment forming. member, said refrigerant eikaporating element andsaid refrigerant flow corrol device of said refrigeratingsystem alongwith. said sub-top wall structure as a unit from said cabinet.

5. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a cabinet havinga plurality of insulated walls, means forming walls of a storagecompartment within said cabinet, an insulated wall of said cabinethaving an opening therein registering with an open end of saidcompartment wall forming means to provide access to said storagecompartment, a refrigeratingsystem' associated with said cabinet andincluding a refnigerant evaporating element Vdisposed in intimate heat-exchange relation with said storage compartment for cooling same, saidrefrigerating system also including a device mounted within one of saidinsulated cabinet walls adjacent said compartment wall forming means andconnected 'with said refrigerant evaporating element for controlling theflow of refrigerant thereto, said compartment forming means having anaperture in a wall thereof adjacent said device, a cover normallyclosing the aperture in the wall of said compartment forming means andconcealing said device, and said cover being removable from within saidstorage compartment to provide access to said device through saidstorage com-` partment access opening.

6. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a cabinet havinga top, a bottom and a plurality of upright side insulated walls, meansforming walls of a storage compartment within said-cabinet, said cabinettop insulated wall having an opening therein registerlng'with an openupper end of said compartment wall forming means to provide access tosaid storage compartment, a refrigerating system associated with saidcabinet and including a refrigerant evaporating element disposed aboutsaid compartment wall forming .means for cooling said storagecompartment, said refrigerating system '.also including a device mountedwithin one' of `said insulated upright side walls of said cabinetadjacent said compartment wall forming means and connected with saidrefrigerant evaporating .storage compartment access opening.

device, a cover normally closing the aperture in the side wall of saidcompartment forming means and concealing said device. and said coverbeing removable from within said storage compartment to provide accessto said device through said 7. A refrigerating apparatus .comprising incombination, a'cabinet having a plurality of relatively thick. insulatedwalls, a metallic member forming walls of a storage compartment withinsaid "cabinet, an insulated wall of said cabinet having an openingtherein registering with an open end of said metallic compartment wallforming member to provide access .to said storage compartment, avrefrigerating system associated with said cabinet and includingarefrigerant evaporating element disposed in intimate heat exchangerelation with said storage compartment for cooling same, saidreirigerating system also including `a device mounted Vwithin one ofsaid insulated cabinet walls adjacent said metallic compartment wallforming member and connect ed with said refrigerant evaporating elementfor controlling the ilow of refrigerant thereto, said metalliccompartment forming member having an aperture in a wall thereof adjacentsaid device, a metallic plate normally closing the aperture in the walloi said compartment forming member concealing said device and lying insubstantially the same plane with said wall of said compartment formingmember to provide a contlnuation of said wall, and said metallic platebeing removable from said compartment forming member from within saidstorage compartment to provide access to said device throughsaid storagecompartment access opening.

8. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a cabinet havinga top, a bottom and a plurality of upright side insulated walls, ametallic member forming walls of a storage compartment within saidcabinet, said insulated cabinet top wall having an opening thereinregistering with an open upper end of said metallic compartment wallforming member to provide access to said Storage compartment, -arefrigerating system associated with said cabinet and including a.refrigerant evaporating coil substantially surrounding said metalliccompartment forming member and secured in intimate thermal contacttherewith for cooling said storage compartment, said refrigeratingsystem also including a device mounted within one of said insulatedsupright side walls f said cabinet'adjacent'said metallic compartmentwall forming member and connectivertical plane with'said compartmentforming member side wall and providing a continuation thereof, and saidmetallic plate being removable from said metallic compartment formingmember from within said storage compartment to provide access to saiddevice through said storage compartment access opening. l

9. A ref-rigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a cabinethaving a bottom, top and a plurality of insulated upright side walls,said cabinet also including a metal frame structure and a metallicmember forming-walls of afstorage compartment within said cabinet, `thetop insulated wall .of said cabinet havingv an aperture thereinregistering with an open upper end of l said compartment wallformingmember to provide an access opening to said storage compartment,a refrigerating system associated with said cabinet 'and including arefrigerant evaporating element disposed in intimate heat exchangerelation with said storage compartment for cooling same, saidrefrigerant evaporating element having refrigerant lconveying conduitsconnected thereto and extending -outwardly therefrom through one of saidcabinet upright insulated Iside walls below said cabinet top insulatedwall, a portion .of said cabinet insulated top wall, said metalliccompartment wall forming member, said refrigerant evaporating elementand the refrigerant conduits connected thereto being movable upwardly ofother of said cabinet walls as a unit to remove same from saidapparatus, said cabinet metal frame structurefhaving -a partthereofdisposed in the path of elevation of-said refrigerantconveyingl conduitsof said unit, and said frame part' being detachable from said cabinetframe.

structure to provide'an opening therein through which said refrigerantconveying conduits may and a metallic member forming walls of a storagecompartment within said cabinet, the top insulated wall of said cabinethaving an aperture therein registering with an open upper end of saidcompartment wallforming member to provide an accessl opening to saidstorage compartment, a refrigerating system associated with said cabinetand including a refrigerant evaporating element disposed in intimateheat exchange' relation with said storage compartment for coolingsame,said refrigerant evaporating element having refrigerant conveyingconduits connected thereto and extending outwardly therefrom through'one of said cabinet upright insulated side -walls below said cabinettopinsulated wall, means secured to said cabinet frame structure forsealing the refrigerant conveying conduits at the point of extensionthereof through said cabinet upright side.

wall, a portion of said cabinet top insulated wall, said metalliccompartment wall forming member, said refrigerant evaporating elementand the refrig'erant conduits connected thereto being movable upwardlyof other of said cabi-net walls as a unit to remove same from saidapparatus, said cabinet metal frame structure having `a part thereofdisposed in the path of elevationof said reirigerahtconveying conduitsoi' said unit, and said sealing means and said frame part beingdetachable from said cabinet frame structure to provide an openingtherein/through vwhich said refrigerant conveying conduits may passduring elevation of said unit from said apparatus.'

ll. A refrigerating apparatus comprising sin combination, a cabinethaving ahbottom, top and a plurality of insulated upright side walls,said cabinet also including a metal frame structure and a metallicmember forming walls of a storage compartment within said ,cabinet,thecabinet#v `YVmetal frame structure comprising a vertically disposed postforming portion and a horizontal portion thereabove, the top insulatedwall of said cabinet having an aperture therein registering -with anopen upper end of said -compartment wall forming member to provide anaccess opening to said storage compartments refrigeratingA systemassociated with said cabinet andinclud- 5 ing a refrigerant evaporatingcoil substantially,

surrounding and being directly secured to said compartment wall formingmember for cooling said storage compartment, said pipe coil havingrefrigerant conveying conduits connected thereto and extending outwardlytherefrom through onev of said cabinet upright insulated walls andthrough an opening in a wall of said postforming portion of said cabinetmetal frame structure, a' portion of said cabinet insulated top wall,said metallic compartment wall forming member,

. said refrigerant evaporating pipe coil and the refrigerant conduitsconnected thereto being movable upwardly of. other of said cabinet wallsas a unit to remove same from said apparatus, said lo' horizontalportion of said frame structure above the opening in said post formingportion thereof being providedv with an open part, means normallyclosing lthe opening in said post forming portion of said framestructure, means normally ,u closing the open part in said horizontalportion of said frame structure and providing a continuation of saidframe structure across said open part thereon-,and both of said meansbeing detachable from said cabinet to provide a vertical 3 slot in themetal frame structure thereof through which the refrigerant conve gconduits may pass during elevation of said unit from said apparatus. 4

12. A, refrigerating apparatus comprising in u combination, a cabinethaving a bottom wall, a

v plurality lof side walls, a top memberanda subtop wall structure, ametallic member forming a compartment within said cabinet, said cabinettop member and said cabinet sub-topl wall structure havingregisterlngapertures therein provid- A ling an access opening to saidcompartment, said metalhc member being rigidly connected to said cabinetsub-top wall structure imspaced relation to said cabinet .top member,means including an element of low heat conductivity extending betweensaid members and having a resilient edge portion engaging said topmember about the ap-l erture therein, said means being .constructedD andarranged to form a non-hygroscopic wall of said compartment accessopening, a refrigerating system associated with said cabinet andincluding a refrigerant evaporation portion extending along saidcompartment forming member in intimate thermal heat exchangerelationship therewith,

said element beingremovable from said cabinet to permit detachment ofsaid top` member from said cabinet, and said cabinet sub-top wallstructure being detachable from other walls o'f' said cabinet andmovable upwardly thereof to remove said compartment forming member andsaid refrigerant evaporating portion of said refrigerating system alongwith said sub-top wall structure as a unit from said cabinet.

13. A refrigerating. apparatusy comprising in combination, a cabinethaving a plurality of insulated walls, said cabinet also-including aframe structureV and a member forming walls of a storage compartmentwithin said cabinet, one of the insulated walls of said cabinet havingan apl0 erture therein registering with an opening in said 4 net andincluding a refrigerentevaporating portion disposed in intimate heatexchange' relation with said storage compartment for cooling same, saidrefrigerant evaporating portion having refrigerant conveying conduitsconnected thereto-- 8 asuntos move same from said apparatus, said'cabinet frame structure having a part thereof disposed in the path ofmovement of said refrigerant conduits of said unit, and said frame partbeing detachable from said cabinet frame structure to 5 provide anopening therein through which said refrigerant conveying conduits maypass during removal of said unit from said apparatus.

WILFORD H. TEETER..

